Directional signal flasher



Aug. 31, 1965 N. RENAUD DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL FLASHER Filed Dec. 3, 1963 United States Patent 3,204,220 DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL FLASHER Nicole Renaud, ne Richomme, Paris, France, assignor to Jean Michel Vernhes, Paris, France Filed Dec. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 327,593 Claims priority, application France, Dec. 3, 1962,

917,342, Patent 1,349,321 6 Claims. (Cl. 340-81) The invention relates to directional signal sets and has specific reference to a directional signal flasher, notably for automotive vehicles, fed from a source of electric current and comprising an expansible member having a relatively high electrical resistance, mounted in series in the circuit leading to the luminous load system to which discontinuous or intermittent signals are delivered, characterized in that it comprises three substantially parallel contact-bearing blades each responsive to an elastic return force tending to restore them to a position of static equilibrium, the first blade being normally held away from its position of equilibrium by said expansible memher and connected to the luminous load system, the second or intermediate blade being connected to one terminal of said source of electric current, the third blade being normally held away from its position of equilibrium by an extension of said first blade, whereby said third blade will follow at least partially the movement of said first blade, the contact between the first and second blades being normally open and the contact between the second and third blades being normally closed in the inoperative position of the flasher, together with a current relay connected across said third contact-bearing blade and said expansible resistance member, the movable armature of said relay consisting of said second blade, the relative disposal of said contact-bearing blades and said current relay being such that said first and third blades are resiliently urged to their position of equilibrium in the same direction as the one in which said second blade is attracted when said relay is energized.

The flasher according to this invention ditters essentially from the known devices in that the time necessary for heating the expansible member consisting of a wire or tape of relatively high electrical resistance is particularly short and that the signal lamps are alternately put on and out during the cooling time period of the expansible wire or tape.

The flasher according to this invention is advantageous notably in that it is free of any electrical resistance inserted in the circuit during the ON period of the signal lamps, so that these lamps receive the maximum lighting current. On the other hand, the current is cut oif completely during the OFF period of these lamps.

In order to afford a clearer understanding of the present invention and of the manner in which the same may be carried out in practice, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing. illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a typical form of embodiment of the flasher of this invention. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a wiring diagram illustrating the disposal of the component elements of the flasher in their inoperative position; and

FIGURES 2 to 4 are fragmentary diagrams illustrating different steps of the operation of this flasher.

In FIG. 1, the directional signal flasher constituting the subject-matter of this invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 1 and enclosed in a rectangle shown in broken lines. This flasher is adapted to deliver to a di- 3,204,220 Patented Aug. 31, 1965 rectional signal lighting system comprising lamps 2, 3, 4 and 5 intermittent electric signals causing these lamps to be alternately ON and OFF. In the case of a mounting on an automotive vehicle, the lamps 2, 3 are for example the left-hand front and rear directional signal lamps and the other lamps 4 and 5 are the right-hand front and rear directional signal lamps. A control switch 6 permits of selecting the side (left or right) where the directional signal lamps are to be lighted, the contacts 6a and 6b of this switch being connected to the pairs of lamps 2, 3 and 4, 5 respectively.

On the other hand, on the dashboard or instrument panel of the vehicle, or on the steering column, a tell-tale lamp 7 may be provided to indicate when the directional signal lamps are ON.

The directional signal flasher according to the present invention comprises a first elastic metal blade 8 having one end secured on a support 9 connected through a wire 11 to the movable arm of control switch 6. This blade 8 carries on its free or outer end a contact stud 12 and has a curved extension 13 having secured in turn on its outer end an insulating stop 14. A wire or tape 15 of a material having a relatively high electrical resistance is mounted under mechanical prestress conditions between the elastic blade 8 and a fixed point 16. This blade 8 is thus normally held away from its position of equiliggmm shown in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 1, by the wire The'directional signal flasher also comprises another contact blade 17 substantially parallel to said first blade 8 and having one end pivoted at 18 on a spring blade 19 carried in turn by a support 21. The fixed end of blade 17 is on the other hand connected electrically to one of.

the terminals 22, in this example the positive terminal, of the source of electric current feeding the flasher. The degree of prestress of the spring blade 19 may be adjusted by means of an eccentric cam 23 or thelike, this arrangement permitting of varying the curvature of the spring blade 19 by changing the position of this cam about its axis of rotation. This cam 23 constitutes at the same time a rest for the blade 17 in the inoperative position of this element.

The second blade 17 carries on its outer end two contact studs 24,25 mounted on the opposite faces of the blade. Contact stud 24 registers with the contact stud 12 of blade 8, the contact assembly formed by studs 12 and 24 being open in the inoperative condition of the flasher.

The flasher further comprises a third elastic blade 26 secured by one end at 27 and having its opposite or free end normally bearing on the insulating stop 14 carried by the in-turned end of the curved extension 13 of blade 8. The free end of the elastic blade 26 carries on the other hand on its opposite faces a pair of contact studs 28 and 29. Contact 28 registers with the aforesaid contact stud 25 of blade 17 and the contact between the two studs is normally closed in the inoperative position of the devices, as shown in FIG. 1.

The other contact stud 29 carried by the blade 26 registers with a fixed contact stud 31 also acting as a stop engaged by the blade 26 when this blade is free (as shown in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 1). It will be seen that in the. inoperative position of the flasher the blade 26 is raised off the contact stud 31 by the-blade 8, thus opening the. contact between studs 29 and 31.

The fixed contact 31 is connected to one terminal of the tell-tale lamp 7 of which the other terminal is earthed.

The flasher further comprises a current relay 32 having its winding connected on the one hand to the point of fixation 27 of the third blade 26 and on the other hand to the point of fixation 16 of the expansible wire or tape '15. The other blade 17 of the flasher, which consists of ferrous metal, is arranged with a view to constitute the movable armature of relay 32.

The operation of the device of this invention will now be described from the inoperative position illustrated in FIG. 1. The control switch 6 is assumed to be in its intermediate or neutral position, whereby no current flows through the set. When the control switch arm 6 is moved to the position in which it contacts the stud 6a (as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1) the following circuit builds up: positive terminal 22, blade 17, blade 26 (with contact 25-28 closed), relay 32, expansible wire 15, blade 8, switch arm 6 and lamps 2, 3. -At this time, a current flows through the Wire 15 which is elongated instantaneously to free the blade 8 and therefore the blade 26 and armature 17. Both blades 8 and 26 tend to resume their position of equilibrium due to their inherent flexibility by pivoting roughly in the clockwise direction about points 9 and 27 respectively, and armature 17 is attracted by the core of relay 32 which is thus energized. Blade 26 pivots about its anchor point 27 until contact stud 29 engages the fixed contact stud 31. At this time the telltale lamp 7 is lighted since all the contact studs 25, 28, 29 and 31 are in electrical contact with one another, and blade 17 is connected to the positive terminal of the current supply.

As the expansion of wire 15 proceeds, blade 8 continues its pivotal clockwise movement about its support 9, whereby the insulating stop 14 leaves the end of blade 26 which bears on contact stud 31. -At a certain time, contact 12 engages the contact stud 24 and the various movable elements are in the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

Although the first phase of the operation of the device has been divided into two steps in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention, actually these two steps take place during a very short time period as a function of the cross-section area of wire 15.

From the time the contact 12 engages the stud 24 (FIG. 2) the current flows directly through the lamps 2 and 3 by means of the following circuit: positive terminal 22, blade 17, contacts 24 and 12, blade 8, control switch arm 6, lamps 2 and 3. These lamps 2 and 3 are thus lighted with a maximum intensity, the above-described circuit being free of any resistance element. The time necessary for heating the wire 15, which is substantially the same as that of the filaments of the lighting lamps 2 to 5, is practically instantaneous and no two-step lighting is observed.

When the lamps are lighted (that is, in the position shown in FIG. 2), the wire 15 and relay 32 are shortcircuited. Therefore, the wire 15 begins to cool down and the attraction previously exerted by the relay 32 on its armature 17 is discontinued. The wire 15 is contracted and restores the elastic blade 8 to its initial position, i.e., by causing same to pivot in the counter-clockwise direction about the pivot point 9. Since the armature 17 is no more attracted by the core of relay 32, the contact stud 24 of armature 17 remains engaged on the contact stud 12 of blade 8 (due to the resilient return force exerted by the spring blade 19) and the armature 17 can follow the movement of blade 8, the elastic blade 26 remaining in engagement with the contact stud 31. Under these conditions, the contact between the studs 25 and 28 is open but the tell-tale lamp 7 remains energized through the following branch circuit: contact stud 12, expansible wire 15, relay 32, blade 26, contact studs 29 and 31, telltale lamp '7. During the first part of the cooling time, the lamps 2 and 3 are ON together with the tell-tale lamp 7.

It may be noted that the current supplied to the lowwattage tell-tale lamp 7 flows likewise through the current relay 32, but this current is too moderate to energize the relay winding and cause the attraction of its armature 17 and therefore the heating of the wire or tape 15.

Then, as the blade 8 continues its backward movement to its initial position, blade 17 will finally engage the stop-forming cam 23 (see 'FIG. 3). Then the contact between studs 12 and 24 is discontinued (FIG. 4), and lamps 2, and 3, as well as the tell-tale lamp 7, are put out. The period of complete extinguishing begins, since no current flows through the device.

As the blade 8 continues its return movement it carries along the blade 26 by means of its insulating stop 14 (FIG. 4) and causes this blade to pivot in the counterclockwise direction until contact stud 28 engages contact stud 25. At this time the initial conditions are resumed and a current flows again in the expansible wire 15. The period of complete extinguishing is then ended and the cycle is resumed.

The proper operation of the lamps 2 to 5 is controlled by means of the relay 32 which is so adjusted that its armature 17 is not attracted when the current flowing through its winding is reduced as a consequence of th increase in the resistance of the circuit due to the failu of a lamp. In this case, the armature 17 remains stationary and the movement of the first blade 8 is stopped when the contact stud 28 leaves the contact stud 25. As a consequence, a beat takes place and the contact is n t established between the studs 29 and 31. Under these conditions, the tell-tale lamp 7 remains OFF and indicates a failure in the lighting system.

Of course, various modifications may be brought in the practical actuation of the device of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A directional signal flasher notably for automotive vehicles, fed from a source of electrical energy and delivering intermittent electrical directional signals to a luminous load system, which comprises an expansible member having a relatively high electrical resistance which is mounted in series with said luminous load system, a first blade, a second blade and a third blade carrying separate contact studs, said blades being substantially parallel to each other and constantly urged to their positions of static equilibrium, said first blade being held away from its position of equilibrium by said expansible member and connected to said luminous load system, said second blade being connected to said source of electrical energy, said third blade being normally held away from its position of equilibrium by said first blade, whereby said third blade follows at least partially the movement of said first blade, the contact between said first and second blades being normally open while the contact between said second and third blades is normally closed in the inoperative position of the flasher, and relay means comprising a movable armature, said relay being connected across said third contact-carrying blade and said expansible resistant member, and having its movable armature aforesaid constituted by said second blade, the relative arrangement of said first, second and third contact-carrying blades and of said relay being such that said first and third blades are resiliently urged to their positions of equilibrium in the same direction as that in which said second blade is attracted when said relay is energized.

2. A directional signal flasher as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first blade comprises a curved portion and an insulating stop member carried by said curved portion, said insulating stop member acting upon said third blade.

3. A directional signal flasher as set forth in claim 1, comprising a spring for resiliently urging said second blade, and adjustment means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

4. A directional signal flasher as set forth in claim 3, wherein said adjustment means act also as stop means with respect to said second blade.

5 6 5. A directional signal flasher as set forth in claim 3, References Qited by the Examiner comprising a spring blade secured at one end and having UNITED STATES PATENTS mounted thereon said second blade of which the curvature may be altered by said adjustment means. 2674730 4/54 Klebanofl et a1 2O0' 88 X '6 A directional signal flasher as set forth in claim 1 5 2681394 6/54 Honms 20088 2,882,379 4/59 Long 200l13 X comprising an electric contact stud normal-1y engaged by said third blade, and a tell-tale lamp connected to said BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

electric Contact ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner. 

1. A DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL FLASHER NOTABLY FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, FED FROM A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY AND DELIVERING INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS TO A LUMINOUS LOAD SYSTEM, WHICH COMPRISES AN EXPANSIBLE MEMBER HAVING A RELATIVELY HIGH ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE WHICH IS MOUNTED IN SERIES WITH SAID LIMINOUS LOAD SYSTEM, A FIRST BLADE, A SECOND BLADE AND A THIRD BLADE CARRYING SEPARATE CONTACT STUDS, SAID BLADES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND CONSTANTLY URGED TO THEIR POSITIONS OF STATIC EQUILIBRIUM, SAID FIRST BLADE BEING HELD AWAY FROM ITS POSITION OF EQUILIBRIUM BY SAID EXPANSIBLE MEMBER AND CONNECTED TO SAID LIMINOUS LOAD SYSTEM, SAID SECOND BLADE BEING CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY, SAID THIRD BLADE BEING NORMALLY HELD AWAY FROM ITS POSITION OF EQUILIBRIUM BY SAID FIRST BLADE, WHEREBY SAID THIRD BLADE FOLLOWS AT LEAST PARTIALLY THE MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST BLADE, THE CONTACT BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND 